A judge denied a motion to reduce the bonds for the parents of the Michigan teenager who has been charged in a shooting that left four Oxford High School students dead.
Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews said that James and Jennifer Crumbley’s tried to conceal their whereabouts before they were finally arrested on Dec. 4.
“The defendants indicate they were devastated when they heard about the alleged actions of their son, felt unsafe in their home, felt hounded by the press, and found it necessary to leave,” Matthews said. “The chronology of events that occurred subsequent to the defendants leaving their home is not consistent with cooperation with law enforcement.”
The parents disappeared the day before — which was after they were both charged with involuntary manslaughter.
They are accused of failing to keep a gun secured at their home and also failing to reasonably care for their son when he showed signs of mental distress, the Associated Press reported.
They have pleaded not guilty.
“Upon a warrant being issued, law enforcement is not required to make an appointment with a defendant,” Matthews said. “It is the job of the police to ensure a swift, safe and secure arrest. The defendants’ actions were premeditated to conceal their whereabouts.”
The Crumbleys’ attorneys motioned for their bonds to be lowered from $500,000 each to $100,000 each. They also indicated they would appeal the judge’s ruling on the motion and would seek a change of venue before the case heads to trial, which is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 24.
“The Crumbleys were absolutely shocked parents who had no reason to foresee what would happen,” defense attorneys Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman wrote earlier.
The Oakland County prosecutor’s office argued against the reduction of a bond for the Crumbleys and made mentioned that a similar request was denied by a judge in a lower court.
“The claim that they weren’t trying to flee is not credible,” Prosecutor Karen McDonald told reporters after Tuesday’s hearing. “Turning yourself in is always the best route. You can’t try to run from being prosecuted and claim you were always going to return to a court date.”
Ethan Crumbley, 15, is charged with murder and other crimes. Four students were killed and others were injured in the Nov. 30 high school shooting.
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
